As summer wanes and the air turns crisp, the forests surrounding Postcard Cabins begin their vibrant transformation. From golden aspens in the West to crimson maples in the Northeast, fall brings a unique color show to each outpost. Here’s your Fall Foliage Guide for 2025—when you can expect the leaves to begin turning and when they typically reach their peak at each location—organized by region with insights into the local forest flavor. So, mark your calendar and make plans to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of the season.
NORTHEAST
Field Guide: Autumn in the Northeast is a full-spectrum spectacle—fiery reds, electric oranges, and golden yellows stretch across hardwood-covered hills. Crisp air and early frosts trigger an especially vivid transformation. Sugar maple dominates with its kaleidoscope of color, joined by scarlet oak, birch, and beech, lighting up the forests from Maine to New York.
Blake Brook, NH
Epsom, NH
Change begins: Mid-September
Peak color: Late September to early October
The surrounding White Mountain forests are rich with red maples and birch. Look for early high-elevation color and sweeping mountain vistas.
Machimoodus, CT
Moodus, CT
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Early to mid-October
Maple forests offer a fiery display of red, orange, and gold, with river valleys adding birch and hickory highlights.
Eastern Catskills, NY
Catskill, NY
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Early to mid-October
Classic Catskills foliage dominated by sugar maple, red oak, and birch. A dramatic mix of red and orange with golden bursts.
Western Catskills, NY
Roscoe, NY
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Early to mid-October
Nestled in the western peaks, these forests mirror their eastern counterpart in hue and intensity.
MIDWEST
Field Guide: The Midwest transforms into a patchwork quilt of color by mid-fall. Towering oaks, sugar maples, and shagbark hickories blaze in gold, orange, and crimson, stretching across plains, prairies, and lakeshores. From Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the rolling hills of Missouri, fall here is both bold and nostalgic.
Beaver Creek, OH
Lisbon, OH
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid to late October
Rolling hills of maple and oak turn warm gold with flashes of crimson.
Hocking Hills, OH
Nelsonville, OH
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Vibrant hardwoods fill forested ravines and frame waterfalls with rich color.
Brown County, IN
Columbus, IN
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Oak-hickory forests paint the landscape orange and gold, with scenic drives throughout.
Starved Rock, IL
Ottawa, IL
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Riverside forests glow with a patchwork of yellow, orange, and red.
St. Francois, MO
Bloomsdale, MO
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Classic Midwestern hues span from ochre to deep burgundy in this quiet forested escape.
Ozark Highlands, MO
Osceola, MO
Change begins: Early October
Peak color: Mid October
Look for fiery ridgelines of maple, oak, and hickory in brilliant gold and crimson. The rugged terrain adds drama to every turn of the trail.
The Thumb, MI
Columbiaville, MI
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Expect lakeside golds and bright maple reds in the heart of Michigan’s countryside.
Barber Creek, MI
Grand Junction, MI
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Maple and oak stands reflect vividly across peaceful lakes and wetland areas.
Wild Rose, WI
Wild Rose, WI
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Northern hardwoods put on a spectacular display of gold, orange, and deep scarlet.
Kettle River, MN
Willow River, MN
Change begins: Mid-September
Peak color: Late September to early October
One of the earliest peak sites, filled with birch, maple, and aspen in bold hues.
PACIFIC WEST & NORTHWEST
Field Guide: In the Pacific, fall foliage comes with a cool mist and dramatic light. While conifers dominate, high-elevation valleys and ridges surprise with aspens, larches, and maples that glow gold, orange, and red in the crisp fall air. Look for glowing creek beds, fog-laced forests, and golden corridors through cedar and fir.
Mount Adams, WA
Glenwood, WA
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Early October
Look for golden larch and yellowing maples against the backdrop of volcanic peaks.
Skagit Valley, WA
Mount Vernon, WA
Change begins: Early October
Peak color: Mid-October
Bigleaf maples and alder trees add splashes of color to evergreen foothills.
Big Bear, CA
Running Springs, CA
Change begins: Late October
Peak color: Late October to early November
High-elevation oak and aspen groves turn gold and orange above the San Bernardino mountains.
MID-ATLANTIC
Field Guide: In the Mid Atlantic, fall color unfolds gradually, brushing ridges and valleys with amber, russet, and maroon. From the Alleghenies to the Blue Ridge, forests of red maple, sassafras, hickory, and tulip poplar create a rich, layered mosaic. These forests offer some of the most accessible autumn displays—perfect for a weekend drive or a trailside picnic.
Shenandoah, VA
Stanardsville, VA
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Oak-heavy slopes glow gold and orange; scattered red maples offer vibrant pops at higher elevations.
Shenandoah North, VA
Basye, VA
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid-October
Diverse hardwood forests give way to sweeping ridge lines of red, gold, and russet.
Asheboro, NC
Asheboro, NC
Change begins: Mid-October
Peak color: Late October
Oak and poplar dominate here, offering golden yellows with hints of soft red in river hollows.
SOUTHEAST
Field Guide: As the season shifts in the Southeast, deciduous trees tucked among evergreens begin to glow with soft oranges, mellow golds, and occasional bursts of crimson. Expect a slower, more staggered change—from the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains, down into the Cumberland Plateau and Piedmont. Oak, hickory, and sweetgum trees offer gold, brown, and orange tones. Higher elevations hide bursts of red maple and scarlet oak.
Chattahoochee, GA
Suches, GA
Change begins: Late September
Peak color: Mid to late October
Mountain terrain and cooler temps support vibrant golds and occasional reds at higher elevation.
Talladega Valley, AL
Childersburg, AL
Change begins: Early October
Peak color: Mid to late October
Warm autumn hues sweep across rolling oak forests, especially along streams and hillsides.
Dale Hollow, TN
Celina, TN
Change begins: Early October
Peak color: Mid to late October
A blend of oak and hickory fills the valleys with rich gold and amber tones, best seen on the water.
Lake Hartwell, SC
Seneca, SC
Change begins: Late October
Peak color: Early November
Expect subtle golds and orange along the shoreline, with brighter colors in the higher foothills nearby.
GULF STATES
Field Guide: In the forests stretching from East Texas through southern Mississippi, and into northern Florida, fall arrives with a gentler touch. Here, color shifts are quieter—think honeyed golds, soft rusts, and the warm greens of pine that linger late into the season. These landscapes feel slower, softer, and made for unhurried walks under a wide southern sky. Look for the copper tones of southern red oak, the buttery yellows of mockernut hickory, flashes of red from black gum, and the steady presence of loblolly, longleaf, and shortleaf pines.
Piney Woods, TX
LaRue, TX
Change begins: Late October
Peak color: Early to mid-November
Oak and gum trees offer golden light and bronze backdrops.
Hill Country, TX
Wimberley, TX
Change begins: Late October
Peak color: Early to mid-November
Hidden maples light up the canyons, framed by golden elm and ash.
Brazos Valley, TX
Navasota, TX
Change begins: Late October
Peak color: Early to mid-November
Warm yellow tones dominate lowland forests and open pastures.
Gilchrist Springs, FL
High Springs, FL
Change begins: Early November
Peak color: Mid to late November
Red maple (also called swamp maple), hickory, and gum trees turn soft amber and yellow amid limestone springs.
Homochitto, MS
Meadville, MS
Change begins: Mid October
Peak color: Late October
Expect subtle swaths of maroon, bronze, and gold from oak and sweetgum, framed by tall pines and quiet, meandering paths.
Ready to plan your fall escape?
No matter which corner of the country you’re headed—whether it’s the blazing reds of New England, the golden larches of the Pacific Northwest, or the slow-burning hues of the Gulf States—there’s a Postcard Cabin waiting to welcome you to the season’s show. Fall is one of the most breathtaking times to reconnect with nature, unwind by the fire, and witness the quiet beauty of changing leaves
To get the most out of your autumn adventure, don’t miss our 8 Tips for Planning Your Fall Getaway to Postcard Cabins. 🍁 Book your cabin now and experience peak fall color at Postcard Cabins—where every leaf tells a story. Book Your Fall Escape.